The excitement and fast pace of basketball makes it a key reason it is so loved. However, in order to play basketball to the best of your ability, there are some pointers you need. This article will give you advice to assist you in becoming a better basketball player.

Many people forget that defense is the key to winning.Defense is how you and a win. Offense gets all the praise and attention, but when you lack good defense, any basketball team is destined to lose.

Make sure that you’re dribbling the right way.When dribbling the basketball, only use your fingertips instead of your palms. Using your fingertips will allow you to better control when dribbling the ball.

You need good balance to shoot well. While the all-time greats have shown time and time again how they can shoot while off-kilter, this is not appropriate for most people. If you have correct balance when you are making a shot, then you will find that your percentage of successful shots improves.

Free throws require as much mental focus as physical abilities. Relax yourself and focus on your basket to increase your free throws.

The concept encompasses the abdominal muscles, hips and abdonimals.A well developed core provides a player generate force with their legs to be applied to faster running and jumping higher.

Try using hand signals to prevent passes are received. Hand signals can tell you communicate with your teammate on the court.

Speed is everything in the game of basketball. Try to play faster than the opponents for an advantage. You will have to do a lot of drilling to play quickly. Don’t attempt to play more quickly than your chances.Playing beyond your speed can result in bad passes and errant passes.

Ask someone to take a friend to record your games so that you can see how yourself in action. Are you able to see what you’ve missed opportunities or things that you could improve on? Be honest with yourself but not overly critical.

Practice passing while not looking in the direction when you pass. You can really confuse your opponents with this technique. When done right, looking this way will make the opponents go to the wrong place so that when you pass the other person has a better chance at making a shot. It’s quite a play if done properly.

Practice with your weaker hand.Tie your dominant hand to the rear of your back to ensure you only to use your weak hand. You will quickly strengthen your weak hand.

This article has shown you why basketball is enjoyed globally. This article shows that you must have basketball knowledge to play like the pros. Apply these tips to your next game to become an even better player.